Spanning the globe, millions of people, and thousands of events, both physical and virtual, will mark World Rivers Day 2025 on Sunday, September 28, in what has become one of the largest environmental celebrations on the planet. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the event.
With many of the world’s rivers in a degraded state and facing increasing pressures associated with pollution, climate change, and industrial development, more than 100 countries will participate in this year’s activities.
The event’s theme is “Waterways in our communities” with an emphasis on protecting rivers that remain in a healthy state, while also striving to restore those that have been damaged in past.
Many events will also profile several sub-themes, such as the significant impact that climate change is having on many rivers, or the all-important link between the state of our rivers and the state of our oceans.
“World Rivers Day is an opportunity for literally millions of people around the world to come together to commemorate the importance of healthy, vibrant waterways,” said Mark Angelo, founder and Chair of World Rivers Day.
Events this year will be both physical and virtual. Many physical events will focus on educational and public awareness activities, while others will include river cleanups, habitat restoration projects, streamside plantings, and community riverside celebrations. Activities of a digital nature may include photo contests, school projects, the launching of new campaigns, online essays and poems, the announcement of new research projects, live-stream panels, and virtual film initiatives.
This year marks the 20th annual World Rivers Day, which has its roots in the success of BC Rivers Day, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary in Canada’s westernmost province and which Angelo founded in conjunction with the Outdoor Recreation Council.
“World Rivers Day strives to increase public awareness of the importance of our waterways as well as the many threats confronting them,” said Angelo.
“Rivers are integral to all life,” added Angelo, who has paddled more than 1,000 rivers in over 100 countries.
World Rivers Day events will take place across six continents in countries ranging from Canada to England, the United States to India, Australia to Bangladesh, Austria to Nigeria, and from Mexico to Caribbean nations such as Dominica.
“More than 100 countries and numerous international organisations will be contributing to World Rivers Day,” says Angelo. “It provides a great opportunity for people to get out and enjoy our waterways. At the same time, the event strives to create a greater awareness of the urgent need to better care for our rivers and streams.”
Through its first decade, World Rivers Day complemented the UN’s Water for Life Decade and continues to do so as part of the UN’s current International Decade for Action: Water for Sustainable Development.
Angelo, a recipient of the Order of Canada in recognition of his global river conservation efforts as well as the inaugural recipient of a United Nations Stewardship Award, initially founded BC Rivers Day in British Columbia back in 1980 in conjunction with the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC. He then successfully lobbied numerous organisations, as well as UN agencies, to recognise World Rivers Day in 2005.